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Topic: 07.25.2127 - A Girl in Hell (Read 2817 times)

Shannon figured that if she was to ‘have a more respectful tongue’ when she returned she may as well get what she had to say out now before the chance was lost. ‘Be Brave’she thought before she looked towards Fresenius and unleashed.

“If Kaine saw what you were doing to my family today he’d butcher you all with the Kar’Thul! You don’t spread his word you spread your lies!” Tears of anger trailed down Shannons cheeks. She saw them for what they were and someday she would reveal them to everyone.

“Let my family go you monsters!” Shannon shouted with all her rage.

Natasha held the furious girl by the shoulders sensing that she might just run towards the council and incur irreversible damage to her life. Dakin had made a sacrifice to keep her from trial for his crimes but that didn’t exclude any she might bring on herself here today.

The three judges didn’t move, but those on the council looked to Fresenius for his response to the outrage, except Cyric, he intercepted the moment to perform damage control.

“That will be quite enough Miss Auvryndyr,” Cyric commanded with a raise of his hand for her silence. He continued without pause, lest Shannon strike out with her tongue again, “Miss Marks, please escort your young client to the East Garden and confer with her there. Mr. Mills, if you would please continue with your presentation of Dakin Auvryndyr’s settlement terms…”

“I don’t believe you have the power to excuse a summoned witness in this court Councilman,” interrupted Fresenius. Shannon felt the hands of Miss Marks’ upon her shoulders tense.

Cyric turned back to address Fresenius, who was now standing on his higher throne. “You’re correct Your Honor, but I had assumed you would want the child informed by her representative… what role she is to play in this court appearance. After all, we do have obvious evidence that this child has not been properly pre-conditioned for this trial and…”

Cyric then did an odd thing, he smiled at the High Priest. “Why of course not Your Honor, such a thing would be both blasphemous and considered contempt. I am merely trying to expedite an obvious oversight. This child needs to be briefed on what expectations are placed on her during this appearance.”

Cyric then turned back towards the center of the proceedings, and projected his next words above those in audience, allowing their weight to crash down upon the grassy roof.

“After all, it was agreed that Shannon would not be put on trial here. It would be a shame to undue all the justice being served upon her parents by a breech in the agreement reached with them by this court.”

Miss Mark’s grip on her loosened slightly.

Cyric continued, “The girl speaks out of love, but also in confusion, a confusion that this court in its own negligence is responsible. So before you sentence or question her on her last outburst Your Honor, I humbly request you let this girl of only 10 years get a hand of council.”

During Cyric’s speech, Fresenius had sat down and gained control of his composure. Shannon had a feeling that these two fought a lot, so much, that they seemed to be always ready for the other’s next move.

“Alright Cyric,” replied Fresenius, “as you will.” Fresenius motioned to Miss Marks for her to escort her charge from the rooftop Gardens.

Miss Marks said to Shannon, in almost a whisper in her ear, “come now Shannon, let’s go talk.”

A hot sensation climbed through Shannon. She had suppressed her fear with anger which was only dominated with love for her parents. She was losing them…and they were losing her.

As she was escorted by Natasha marks out of the formal courtroom she looked at her father with pleading eyes and mouthed the words, “I’m sorry…be brave…” Dakin looked proudly to his daughter and smiled softly. He gave her his telltale wink and his soft smile became a full grin.

It was then that Shannon knew that come what may, things were going to be relatively okay…that he would never lose faith or love in her. She held the picture she drew with the pens of authority and thought that maybe her art could be used as a weapon against the beurocratic hypocrites.

It took a few moments before Natasha spoke to her. The kind lady simply observed her in the garden for a few ticks while Shannon nervously sat on the white marble bench.

The East Garden was surprisingly on a lower level from the rooftop garden they had just left. It was quite the expanse, bigger in floor space than most homes, and had multiple openings in the ceiling to allow light to shrine down from above. But the most incredible thing about the garden was its open wall to the outdoors. One wall simple didn’t exist in the large room, with the garden, full of shrubberies, flowers and pretty landscaping merely ending at the drop off, the ground being 28 floors below.

If Shannon wasn’t so worried about everything, she would have been lost in the beauty of it all.

“Shannon,” Natasha began, I am truly sorry for what you and your parents are going through right now, I truly am.”

Shannon didn’t speak. She wanted to trust the kind lady, but wasn’t sure about her yet, despite Natasha’s obvious dislike of the priest that was just exhibited in the courtyard.

Natasha sat on a bench a few feet away. The two of them were alone in the indoor park.

“Let’s proceed this way, we have a hand to brief you on what is going on, but let’s get your most important questions answered first, shall we?”

Natasha’s eyes under the slightly grayed brow were very compassionate…it made Shannon want a hug…she really needed a hug. But from her mother.

Shannon had so many questions all of which were important in her eyes. Over the last few weeks Shannon had come to trust no one outside of her family, especially those that were pursuing “justice”. The foreboding feeling that no justice would be served this day was frustrating her and she longed for her old life back.

Now was the time, however brief, to become informed. She prayed that Natasha would be forthcoming and not trying to undermine her.

“I am afraid so Shannon,” Natasha answered plainly. Shannon’s eyes looked like they would explode with tears on the spot, so she added, “but compared to what they faced, they are in far better circumstances than you can even appreciate right now.”

It was then that Shannon’s mouth almost exploded, Natasha anticipated, and with her two decades of experience as a lawyer, intercepted. “They faced a death sentence, a public execution no less,” she said with a hand up to delay Shannon’s outburst.

“The city hasn’t seen a hanging in over a century, Fresenius, as evil as, wasn’t willing to spend the political capital even for that type of display of control. So Cyric was able to manipulate him into a prison sentence.”

Shannon’s fears became certain reality, they were going to prison. What sort of life would they have there? At her tender age she certainly had no concept of prison life. She only knew that’s where “the bad people went”. Her parents weren’t bad and they did nothing wrong. How many others were in prison that acted out of love and moral guidance? There was no forgiveness in this machine of justice.

Shannon nodded her understanding to Natasha. At least with a prison sentence she could still write to them hopefully. But what about…

“Will I be able to see them while they are there?” Shannon asked as if to finish her thought.

“No I am afraid not kiddo,” answered Natasha with sympathy. “It is a hard labor camp in the EastHaven mines, and not a place for young girls like yourself.”

Before Shannon burst with her next question Natasha interrupted her with a palm held up. She walked over to Shannon sitting on the bench and kneeled in front of her.

“Listen kiddo. The place where they are going is not a safe one for any prisoner. You will also find out from others that it is a death sentence in and of itself…”

“But why then….” Shannon started to interrupt. Natasha put her hand over Shannon’s nervous ones to calm them from kneading apart her skirt upon her lap. This stopped her just long enough from speaking to allow Natasha to continue.

“Although this place is horrible, I have assurances from Cyric Longbow, the very same councilman to Fresenius’ left out there in the courtyard, that they will be safe.” Natasha let Shannon absorb this new information, seeing how she would react.

“Miss Marks, my name is Shannon. I’m not a kid anymore.” Shannon stated hoping this would not offend the kind councilor.

“I don’t believe what anyone out there says. They said I would be safe at the orphanage and I got thrown into a wall by the headmaster. They wanted me to say my parents did bad things when they didn’t. They put a knife to my throat and threatened to kill me. They beat my father until he was bloody. They took my mother when all she did was save a life.” Shannon recalled. Thinking about the foul things that had recently happened spawned a resurgence of anger and rage at the futility and insurmountable hopelessness of her situation.

Shannon stood up and started to pace. Her hands clenched into and out of tight fists as her mind began to race. She looked out over the city and admired the majestic expanse of the land. In the distance she could see the fires that warded off the Kar’Thul. To her it symbolized what she was feeling at the moment…a fire within that would protect her. She could douse the fire and let her rage cool or she could nurture it and let grow. She could live a life of herded sedation or embrace one of free rebellion. She untied the rolled picture she drew for her mother, a picture of that happy day in the park, and a single tear fell from her eye. “There is no going back” she thought. Her flame of anger was now becoming brighter while her bliss of innocence dimmed.

“After all of that why now should I believe that my parents will be safe in prison!” Shannon shouted with venom breaking the momentary silence. “Why should I believe a mating thing they say! Why should I hold my Kaine-damned tongue when all they say are lies! How can they mating sit up there and look at my father who has bled buckets of blood to defend them and call him a criminal!”

Shannon’s breathing was heavy and Natasha could see the wild look in her eyes punctuated with an angry frown. “No Miss Marks…the promise of liars is no promise at all.” she spat. Shannon turned to face the councilor, “Miss Marks, everyone out there…all of them, will burn.”

Natasha Marks looked her client calmly and waited for her rant to end. When Shannon seemed finished, Natasha continued to just stare, showing no sign of emotional response or sign of forthcoming verbal reprimand.

“Shannon, what do you think will happen if you lose your temper and say anything remotely similar to what you just said?” Natasha asked plainly.

The enraged girl thought for a minute. Deep down she knew that saying anything remotely close to how she truly felt to the council could very well make things worse for her parents. She knew it could make things worse for her as well. The time to lash out was not now, but later. Knowing how to do that effectively was something she needed to calculate over time.

Rage was not something that was so easy to bury. Shannon wondered if she could bury it at all or if she should even try. Perhaps in time she could refine it. It was all consuming right now!

A tempering thought came back to her in her silent rage. The sacrifice her father made in claiming guilt could not be wasted. She now had to harness her feelings and show the strength her father had shown to protect her. Shannon closed her eyes and took a deep breath. In her minds eye she saw an enormous bonfire as she had when her rage first inflamed. She imagined the bonfire getting smaller but still burning with the same intensity of heat. Now she saw the bonfire at the end of a torch and in her hand. She was in control and her mind was clear. Her hand tingled.

“Miss Marks” Shannon replied in an composed tone, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to lose my temper and I’m not mad at you. I don’t plan on saying anything like that to The Council of Liars. I realize that getting angry today will only make things worse for my parents and I don’t want to do that.” Shannon wondered what, if anything, the lawyer could do at this point. Clearly the council had already determined the fate of her parents. What was left to be done? “What’s going to happen to me? What happens now?” Shannon spoke her thought.

Natasha returned the girls’ very serious tone. “Miss Auvryndyr, I am impressed in your anger management skills, so let’s test them. I am going to pretend to be Fresenius and state some of the things he will be stating before you in the court room. Are you ready Miss Auvryndyr?”

At Shannon’s nod Natasha continued.

Natasha stood up straight and posed as the stuffy bureaucrat. Shannon almost laughed but caught herself, knowing that Natasha was a very serious lady and the comedy of her pose wasn’t intentional.

“On this day of grace from Lord Kaine, SummerFirst Fourth-Warday, Twenty-One Hundred Twenty Seven Years post Establishment-Safe-Haven (07.25.2127) Shannon Auvryndyr shall the transferred to the permanent charge of the Our-Commons Orphanage, Shanteel Draven Headmaster presiding. All associated incrimination involved with this case will be absconded from her permanent file and will appear only within this case as a matter of government record. Our Commons orphanage charge will be forgiven at Miss Auvryndyr’s 18th birthday on WinterEnd Fifth-Restday of Twenty-One Hundred Thirty Five Years post Establishment Safe Haven (04.29.2135).”

Shannon listened to the mock sentencing with as much stoicism as she could muster. It was difficult for Shannon to get outraged at Miss Marks with her gentle voice and soothing demeanor. That is, until she heard the name of the beast “Shanteel Draven”. All she could picture was that bald mans head being kicked by her own foot until he was blind and bloody. Her nostrils flared, her eyes widened, and her fists clenched but she held her tongue in check and let Miss Marks (whom she did not make a dehumanizing name for) finish the faux sentencing.

She decided that she would try to remain as emotionless as possible during the real reading of the trial. She didn’t want to give them the satisfaction they no doubt found in issuing their judgment. Should she let this pass without saying a word though? Would her words make any impact on them at all? Would she be speaking to ears that would not hear? Was it worth saying something? Or should she leave in silence and design her vengeance later? Would speaking in a clever but bridled tone alert them to watch her for the rest of her days? So many questions ran through her mind and she truly did not know what she would do when the time came. Perhaps she should just follow her heart and instinct.

She ran her thumb along the edge of paper that harbored the drawing she made for her mother.

“Miss Marks” Shannon stated plainly “I think I’m ready unless you have anything else I should know.” As the lawyer was about to speak Shannon thought of one more thing and blurted out. “Wait! I only ask for one thing Miss Marks. I want one last conversation with both of my parents. If I can’t talk to both of them then one of them. I want you to fight for that. Please tell me you’ll fight for that!”

Shannon nearly staggered to her chair for support upon hearing that bit of information. She knew that was about to happen was going to happen regardless of circumstance or evidence. That much was apparent. All she wanted now aside from vengeance was one final moment with her parents until…until when? Never? They were never going to be able to come out of that hole in the ground.

Unless.

Unless she could break them out. A wry smile hinted at creeping across her face but she held it in check.

“You’re right Miss Marks. Not everyone in this land is evil. I know of three for sure. You’ve been nice to me so that makes four. Maybe the man that was in my jail room has something to do with it so that might make five…six if what you say is true. Believe me, I appreciate being able to see them. Yet I can’t really thank you yet since I’ve not yet been able to talk to either of them.” Shannon observed.

As the hour was dwindling Shannon had only a few moments left to let her tongue loose. “Miss Marks, among many things I’ve seen today one that will stay with me for a long time is the knowledge that evil has many faces and can and does wear nice courtly clothes. It will speak in the tongue of the divine and profess love for everyone. It pretends to wield the sword of morality and a shield of righteousness and probably believes it actually does. It can wear the armor of the law and live in a fortress of fear. It comes in many forms Miss Marks and is all the more sinister when it has authority. Evil does not rest, and neither can we…neither shall I.”

OOC: I realize she's only ten during this episode and probably wouldn't talk like that but damn it sounds good! It's also a forecast to her character later on.

For Shannon it was as though her father was speaking through her. On many occasions her father, Dakin, would speak about the evils he saw on the wall and in the city. They were two different types of evil. One was the demonic sort of evil he often bled to protect the city from. The other was far more subliminal, harder to see, and walked among everyone.

His words never really resonated with her until now. Why would they have before? Until recently she had never been exposed to anything that could be considered “evil”. The last few days opened her eyes to see what her father saw and understand the danger of it. A part of her wished she could close them and make it all disappear.

The young girl wondered if Natasha agreed or empathized with her in any way. She wanted to know that she was not alone in how she felt or saw things. Yes, she was angry and she felt wronged. Did others understand her perspective? Would they even care enough to put themselves in her shoes? Shannon dared to hope they did.